A unique agreement to enhance cancer services has been signed by the Irish, British and US governments in Belfast. The deal will lead to an exchange of research, staff and information.
The "memorandum of understanding" was signed at Stormont yesterday at a ceremony chaired by Senator George Mitchell, who said it created an opportunity to forge further valuable links between the US and Ireland.
It was particularly welcome to see both North and South co-operating in a common cause, said Mr Mitchell. He hoped it was a sign for future co-operation in "defeating other problems".
The memorandum of understanding will mean joint research projects, scholar exchange programmes and a range of other collaborative activities.
A three-day cancer conference opens in Belfast today. More than 1,000 delegates are expected to attend, at least half from the US. The conference is being held in partnership with the National Cancer Institute in Washington.
Both the North and the Republic have considerably higher rates of many cancers than other parts of Europe. Their overall mortality rate is also above the European average. The US is interested in studying the genetic determinants of cancer, as 44 million Americans claim Irish ancestry.
The chief medical officer, Dr James Kiely, said: "Cancer knows no boundaries. This partnership raises our sights and our hopes in the fight against cancer."
The Minister for Health, Mr Cowen, said: "This development is a significant step in developing further a co-operative approach to the fight against cancer. I have no doubt that, through the new consortium, we will considerably improve our chances of tackling the disease.
"Cancer touches the lives of thousands of patients and their families. This understanding we have signed offers the hope of better outcomes for all people with cancer."